A "SPANKING" FOR PHARMACISTS WHO DO NOT STOCK PLAN B?

Published Online: Sunday, April 1, 2007

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Abortion rights activists have launched
a nationwide campaign to "spank" community
pharmacists who do not stock
Plan B (levonorgestrel).

The drive, which is directed by the
National Abortion Rights Action League
(NARAL), urges women across the country
to either "thank" their local pharmacists
for carrying the OTC drug or "spank"
them for failing to do so. In calling for
pharmacist spankings, NARAL urges its
supporters to "take a moment to send a
note...expressing your disappointment"
over the store's decision not to carry
Plan B.

Sample "spanking" letters being circulated
by NARAL suggest that women urge
pharmacies around the country to reconsider
their refusal to stock the OTC.
"Having a backup birth-control method to
prevent unintended pregnancy is an
important option for women in our community,"
the suggested NARAL letter says.
"The FDA's decision to allow adults 18
and older to purchase [Plan B] without a
prescription could help women in our
community prevent unintended pregnancy,
but only if pharmacies, like yours,
stock it."

Corresponding "thank-you" letters to
pharmacies that do carry the contraceptive
advise pharmacy managers that "I
will be sure to tell my friends and family
about the availability of Plan B at your
store."

Officials at NARAL said that, in addition
to the thank-or-spank letter-writing drive,
they plan to "work with leading pharmacy
chains to guarantee that American
women have access to a safe and effective
means of preventing unintended
pregnancy."